A head-on collision on Highway 16 west of Topley Friday claimed the life of a 60-year-old Smithers woman.
The crash was reported to Houston RCMP at noon. Police and emergency officials arrived to the scene about 10 km west of Topley near Perow Loop Road to find a camper van in the middle of the highway and a Lincoln Navigator on its roof in the ditch.
The 22-year-old Houston man driving the Navigator was taken to Burns Lake hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries. The Smithers woman driving the camper van was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Police said the cause of the crash has yet to be determined, but alcohol does not appear to be a factor. Houston RCMP are being assisted in the investigation by a reconstruction analyst and traffic service members.
Highway 16 was closed for several hours while crews and investigators worked at the scene. It was not fully opened until after 9 p.m.